Manchester United are giving serious consideration to keeping Michael Owen for
another season as they press ahead with their summer rebuilding plans.

Owen had been expected to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the
end of this month, but Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, is leaning towards
invoking the option of a third year in the striker’s deal.

With United open to selling Dimitar Berbatov or using the Bulgarian striker as
a makeweight in a deal to lure a leading transfer target, if the opportunity
presents itself, Ferguson is wary of leaving himself short of options up
front